Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Monday praised each other, in a rare gesture, with the Republican presidential nominee calling his Democratic rival a “fighter” who doesn’t “quit” while she lauded his children for being “incredibly able and devoted”.

“She doesn’t quit. She doesn’t give up. I respect that. I tell it like it is. She’s a fighter,” Trump said. “I disagree with much of what she’s fighting for. I do disagree with her judgment in many cases. But she does fight hard, and she doesn’t quit, and she doesn’t give up. And I consider that to be a very good trait,” 70-year-old Trump said in response to the last question of the second presidential debate asked by Karl Becker, a town-hall participant.

“My question to both of you is, regardless of the current rhetoric, would either of you name one positive thing that you respect in one another?” Becker asked the final question in St Louis after the 90-minute heated exchange between the two presidential candidates.

The questioners were selected through an independent process. Clinton, 68, in response to the same question said that she respects Trump’s children who are “incredibly able and devoted”.

“Look, I respect his children. His children are incredibly able and devoted, and I think that says a lot about Donald. I don’t agree with nearly anything else he says or does, but I do respect that. I think that is something that as a mother and a grandmother is very important to me,” Clinton said.

WATCH VIDEO

Clinton said she believes that the election has become in part so conflict-oriented, so intense because there’s a lot at
stake. This is not an ordinary time, and this is not an ordinary election, she said.

“We are going to be choosing a president who will set policy for not just four or eight years, but because of some of the important decisions we have to make here at home and around the world, from the Supreme Court to energy and so much else, and so there is a lot at stake. It’s one of the most consequential elections that we’ve had,” Clinton said.
Trump thanked Clinton for praising his children.

“I consider her statement about my children to be a very nice compliment. I don’t know if it was meant to be a compliment, but it is a great. I am very proud of my children. They’ve done a wonderful job, and they’ve been wonderful, wonderful kids. So I consider that a compliment,” Trump said.